Vol 5 Chapter 1 (1/2)

”Nii-san, wake up! Nii-san!”

Callingmy consciousness from deep sleep

When I woke to a start, before my eyes was a familiar face

A beautiful girl with gorgeous long black hair Currently, she was pouting childishly Rather than beautiful, cute would probably be a better description

She—Mononobe Mitsuki—wasno blood relations, we apparently lived together since childhood as family

The reason why this sounded so vague was because it was purely knowledge I lack the basis to support this knowledge Memories

I had now lost my memories from when Mitsuki and I were fahting Hraesvelgr, the price I paid was overwriting all o

Hence, right in front ofirl

My heart raced Unable to stare at her eyes directly from up close, I avoided eye contact

”G-Good , Mitsuki”

I greeted her hoarsely

”Do not give ed and co hall”

I found the alarm clock next to my pillow by touch and checked the time

”Oh I'm so sorry”

Norotten to set my alarm

I frantically tried to get up but I felt a sharp pain when I applied force on my left hand

”Ow”

I frowned and drew outnear the dragon mark on the back of my left hand

”This is—”

I re after defeating ”White” Leviathan, a scar had appeared next to ravitational matter

”Nii-san, what is with that wound?”

However, Mitsuki peered at my left hand, purely worried about me

”I probably scratched it on so serious, so don't worry It'll heal up soon on its own”

Perhaps I h this was possible, since there was no proof, I silossed over it randomly for now First, I should confer with Principal Charlotte B Lord since she had suspected a causal link between scars on the dragonpowers

”No! What if it gets infected? I will bring the first aid kit Please wait, Nii-san”

Saying that, Mitsuki frantically rushed out of the roo that she was still angry a o

Left alone in the room, I exhaled

It was the third day after returning froainst ”Yellow” Hraesvelgr

Finally free of battle fatigue and jet lag, my body had returned to normal

But I was still unused to playing the role of Mitsuki's older brother properly

I had not lostwith Mitsuki But even so,was still poor

Mitsuki treated me as family and would interact with me at this kind of distance, but it troubled me and made me involuntarily nervous

I had considered co clean to her

Seeing as I did not consider Mitsuki fa excessive fear towards hurting her with the truth

But in actual fact, I could not say it noit up to her, I found myself unable to make a sound

It was al me ”don't hurt Mitsuki”

Hence, I was still playing the role of Mitsuki's older brother—while siuilt of continued deceit

Soon after, Mitsuki returned to the room and placed the first aid kit on the bed

”Then I shall treat it for you, Nii-san Please hold out your left hand”

”O-Okay”

As soon as I extended rabbed it without hesitation The feeling of her hand, a size s my heart race Nervousness froze my body

”Ita little, so please endure it”

”Ow!”

I roan reflexively when the antiseptic was applied to the wound Mitsuki iently at me

”Do not worry, it will be done in a second”

As though coaxing a child, Mitsuki then wiped the antiseptic with cotton and applied a large band-aid to the wound

”Okay, finished”

Mitsuki released my hand and ended the treatment

”—Thank you”

”Not at all, you are welcome”

Mitsuki answered with a delighted smile

”It feels like you're very happy”

Feeling strange, I asked her Mitsuki widened her eyes and showed surprise on her face

”Is that how I look?”

”Yeah”

”Then perhaps it is because—It has been a while since I finally got the chance to look after you, Nii-san Because lately, you see me all the time”

Mitsuki scratched her face, seely quite embarrassed and turned her back to me

”Well then, Nii-san, get changed quickly and co hall, because I would like to eat breakfast together with you”

Saying that, Mitsuki left the roo back

”Got it, I'ed as fast as I can”

Touching the band-aid Mitsuki had applied forthe role of her older brother, I replied

Twenty-five years ago, the first dragon suddenly appeared in the sky above japan—”Black” Vritra

Causingacross the world, Vritra had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared

And starting fro the sa humans

These children were known as Ds

Just by thinking silently, these Ds were able to generate dark matter that could be transathered to live at Midgard, an island far south of japan with a diameter of several kilometers

But three years ago, instead of Midgard, it was the on-related matters, that took me in

I went through co at NIFL to become a member of the special forces teaht as a soldier on various battlefields One day, I was suddenly reassigned to Midgard, and noas studying at the Academy like all the other Ds

Indeed—Midgard was the self-governed educational institute of the Ds Since Ds lost their powers after getting pregnant or reaching the age of twenty or so, all Ds at Midgard were at an age meant to attend school

Life was very fulfilling and full of fun, going to school with people of the sa I felt unaccustomed to, it was the fact that there were no boys apart from me

Although the reason was unknown, all Ds were born female Currently I was the lone exception as a enerate dark matter

Hence, after Mitsuki and I left the dorm and started on our way to school, we becairls when reached the intersection where the road forked off to the girls dormitories

When I first arrived in Midgard, the girls would stare atfroot uncomfortable in a different sense

”Kyah—!”

When Mitsuki and I appeared before the coirls, they instantly screamed and cheered

I jureeted the, everyone”

”Good !”

Iirls replied in unison

Everyone stopped and gazed intently at us Walking side by side with Mitsuki, I felt uncomfortable all over

”What's with this situation”

Hearing s, Mitsuki looked up and said to me:

”This is the way things are Because Brynhildr Class is currently regarded as the equivalent of heroes in Midgard”

”What heroes? That's way too exaggerated”

Hearing my answer, Mitsuki exhaled in exasperation

”You are lacking in self-awareness, Nii-san In anti-dragon combat so far, Brynhildr Class has always served as the mainstay of our forces Apart froht to be 'i the center of attention is only natural”

”Hmm Is that the way it works?”

Hraesvelgr was recognized as the hardest foe to deal with For people to rejoice and feel particularly relieved after finding out that such a dragon had been vanquished, that I could sympathize When Basilisk was defeated, everyone was ecstatic too

But I got the feeling that this type of attention was different from last time's

”But in your case, Nii-san, rather than a hero, it would be better to say you are seen as a prince”

”P-Prince?”

Hearing this term that suited me poorly, I felt quite troubled

”This stems mostly fro to Midgard, rumor has it that she talked tothat you are like her Prince Char—”

For some reason, Mitsuki's tone of voice was somewhat displeased

Firill was r She was also a princess from the Principality of Erlia I paid a heavy price to obtain victory in the fight to protect her

”What Prince Char than a hero”

”However, Nii-san, you look very happy despite your claims on the contrary”

Mitsuki glared coldly and me then murmured quietly:

”At this rate, soainst inappropriate interactions between the genders I must pay more attention”

”Huh? Did you say so?”

”—Please pay it noto myself”

Mitsuki replied coldly then quickened her pace

I tried to ignore the surrounding gazes as much as possible and followed Mitsuki

”U!”

Along the way, several school girls greetedtheir eyes flash with excite troubled

”Oh, good ”

”!”

Iirls blushed intensely and ran away This situation repeated itself ly worse

”Nii-san, surely you et carried away and disrupt public morals, okay?”

Mitsuki looked up to glare at me and warned

”I-I know”

Oppressed by her inexplicably inti the tense atmosphere exuded by Mitsuki, fewer students came to talk to me after that

However, there were also people ould not need to worry about that, naed to Brynhildr Class

”Oh, it's Yuu and Mitsuki!”

A joyful voice sounded from ahead

Co into view in front of us were so rapidly, we soon caught up to them

”Good , Yuu! Mitsuki!”

The first to notice us was a young girl She greeted us energetically Between the strands of her pale hair, which looked pink under the light, two red horns protruded

This girl was naotten out of the dragon-worshi+ping cult, the Sons of Muspell, taken into custody and sent to Midgard here Her horns were not decorations but real horns conferred to her through the biogenic transmutation of dark matter by Kili Surtr Muspelheim, the leader of the Sons of Muspell

Then the other girls in Tia's coreeted us too

”Good , both of you”

Turning around with fluttering long blonde hair was Lisa Highwalker

Despite her strict attitude towards enerously and was very considerate for her friends It would not be a stretch to say that Brynhildr Class was united with her as the center

”Good , Mitsuki, Mononobe-kun”

”Mm”

Next to greet us were the tomboyish Ariella Lu and the reticent redhaired Ren Miyazawa

”Good , everyone”

”Good ”

Mitsuki and I waved our hands in response

However, there was one last person present—Firill Crest—holding a paperback in her hand Instead of greeting us, she silently approached me

”Firill?”

I looked at Firill doubtfully, only to see her close up her paperback, spread her ar

”What!?”

Hidden under her uniforainstmy face heat up

Watching froirls

”Good , Mononobe-kun”

Standing on tiptoe, Firill whispered in ainst my ear, my heart jumped intensely

”Wait, Firill-san! What are you doing suddenly!?”

Mitsuki screamed

”I' An ordinary , filled with love”

However, Firill answered nonchalantly in a calm tone of voice

Despite hearing noisy screas, she seemed completely unfazed

”L-Love?”

Intimidated by her forcefulness, Mitsuki could not help but falter

”It's so unfair that Firill gets a hug! Tia wanna hug too!”

Tia circled around behind irls, I could not move

Despite her young age, Tia's body still had feminine curves, no irls Surrounded by the two girls' body warrance, I could not help but feel dizzy

”Even Tia-san too! Even if it is a greeting, this excessive intimacy is forbidden in public It is detrimental to public morals!”

Red in the face, Mitsuki forced the two girls to separate from me

”Mitsuki so stingy!”

Tia grumbled unhappily while Firill backed away obediently

”Sorry, then I'll pick somewhere without people next time”

However, Firill left behind those words when she returned to Lisa's side

”That is even more unacceptable!”

Mitsuki yelled angrily, glaring atto her ears

”Nii-san, stop letting others have their ith you Fewer problems would arise if only you could pay more attention”

”I-I'll be more careful”

Intimidated by Mitsuki, I could only nod

”—Putting that aside, I wonder what's up with Iris? Why hasn't she appeared”

To change the subject, I looked for the girl as not here Including ht students One person was still —Iris Freyja

”Speaking of Iris-san, she overslept We decided to leave for school first because she did not leave her roo late”

Lisa sighed while answering me

”I see But anyway, I guess she's always like this”

Iris was a bit airheaded, often oversleeping or forgetting things

”Had I not roused you from bed, Nii-san, you would have overslept too”

Hearing Mitsuki murmur that softly, Lisa looked at me in amazement

”Don't tell me that you require Mitsuki-san to rouse you from bed every day?”

”N-Not every day It's just once in a while when I oversleep”

”If you rely on Mitsuki-san to wake you up, that racious If you are still dependent on your younger sister, that ot that? Look, your hair is sticking up a bit”

Saying that, Lisa smoothed my hair in a natural motion

Seeing irls screa the screams, Lisa instantly becaht red

”W-What did you make me do!?”

”You're asking me? Lisa, you touched my hair on your own”

Feeling a bit shaken inside, I gave a ument

Watching our interactions, Firill smiled warmly and placed her hand on Lisa's shoulder

”I understand how you feel, Lisa Mononobe-kun is clearly so handsoainst others It ht?”

”Indeed, perhaps there is that side to hi hat you said about hiilance! I don't find him handsome at all!”

Pointing at er, Lisa spoke in rapid fire

Then as though trying to hide her reddened face, she turned her back to me and strode off to school

”Ti here, all of us will be late”

”Oh, wait for me, Lisa”

Firill ran after Lisa and we followed

Watching us froirls cheered and screa on their way

Looking around, I found that the bystander crowd had increased a lot without

I normally only had contact with irls froot overwhelender ratio

Fortunately, class sizes were less than ten people in Midgard's systeood luck

Part 2

”Iris is so late”

I arrived at school with Lisa and the others but Iris still did not appear when the bell rang for hoin

The seat to ht, Mitsuki also had a worried expression

”shi+nomiya-sensei is already here”

After Mitsuki spoke, the classroom door immediately opened and our homeroom teacher, shi+nomiya-sensei, entered

This woard's commander and also held the rank of colonel

shi+nomiya-sensei's black ponytail swayed behind her as she stood at the lectern

”Rise”

Hence, Mitsuki commanded the class

After confir everyone had bowed and sat down, shi+nomiya-sensei spoke

”There are several important announcements today Before that, let me inform you of Iris Freyja's condition She is absent with a fever today, probably due to long-distance travel fatigue If anyone else feels unwell, please report immediately to me and don't strain yourself”

After listening to the teacher, the students began to whisper to one another

”So she overslept because of a fever If only I had checked carefully”

I heard Lisa ret

I worried about Iris too while thinking back to what had happened at the Principality of Erlia

Iris had tried her hardest to recount to me my shared memories with Mitsuki that I had told her before I lost the she would definitely help me recover my memories

Probably due to this psychological burden, she was much more exhausted than the others Perhaps I was partly to blame for Iris' fever

”shi+nomiya-sensei, can I visit her after school?”

I raised my hand and asked the teacher

”It's fine for the others, but since you are irls dormitory is rather inconvenient”

However, shi+nomiya-sensei showed hesitation

”Back when I was hospitalized froainst Kili, Iris came to visit me, so I'd like to cheer her up a bit”

Even so, I still pleaded with shi+noive up Arms crossed, she contemplated silently for a while

”Hainst Hraesvelgr, I suppose a s as you adhere to my conditions, I can authorize you to visit her”

”Conditions?”

”Yes Firstly, you must obtain Iris Freyja's consent Secondly, a student of that dorm must accompany you Thirdly, you are not allowed to enter unnecessary places Finally, you must leave the dorm before curfew”

shi+noers and spoke

”I understand”

”Very well If you obtain Iris Freyja's consent and find so homeroom after sixth period”

After saying that, shi+noaze around the room once

”—Any other questions? Then I will begin the announcements”

shi+nomiya-sensei cleared her throat, paused for a moment then informed us solemnly

”First of all, soood news Hekatonkheir seems to have reappeared”

”In the end, it still appeared!?”

Mitsuki remarked orry

”Yes, it seems that Hekatonkheir still can't be killed per here, we cannot rule out the possibility of it suddenly appearing in Midgard like last time, so please be prepared at all times, everyone”

shi+nomiya-sensei demanded everyone's attention with a solemn expression then relaxed her demeanor

”Then let's talk about the next iteht be a bit laborious for you”

shi+no our misfortune

”By laborious, do you mean we have another mission?”

Lisa asked shi+nomiya-sensei

”Well, in a certain sense, it does count as a special ested by the principal—A school festival will be held one month later”

”S-School festival?”

Lisa spoke in puzzlement The rest of us were equally surprised

”When Midgard first started operating as a school, the number of Ds was quite small The only event held was probably just the Christmas party at the end of the year But now that the number of students and homerooms has increased, it should be possible to hold a relatively lively event—That's what the principal thinks”

After reaching this point in her explanation, shi+nohtly

”This event was proposed not only for the students but also includes the significance of external promotion I hope you will treat this school festival as a chance to make up for our mission failure last time”

Make up?

I frowned, not knohat this was about

The lastto Firill's homeland, the Principality of Erlia, to protect Kili Surtr Muspelheiard

However, Hraesvelgr attacked during the on, Kili went

But what did that have to do with holding a school festival?

”Kili Surtr Muspelhei anti-social Ds all this time The influence of that statement still persists And our inability to protect her has also ard's credibility Thus, we are forced to prove to the outside world that Midgard is an educational institute, composed of Ds and founded for Ds”

”Speaking of which, will many external visitors come to attend the school festival?”

After hearing the explanation, Lisa asked

Indeed, if we had to make a statement to the outside world, there would be no point unless we entertained external visitors

”Yes, we plan to invite VIPs from various countries, major sponsors, and relatives of students Naturally, all of theround checks”

Relatives—

Hearing this word, I feltlost my memories from before I was taken to NIFL, I could not even recall the faces of my parents Hoas I supposed to face them if they came?

”Nii-san—We ht be able to see Father and Mother”

But in contrast to my internal panic, Mitsuki said happily to me

”Yeah”

I smiled clumsily and nodded

”Every homeroom will be required to prepare an activity for the school festival Since Iris Freyja is absent today, ill delay the decision for noill find another time for you to discuss but before that, please plan your proposals Also, Mononobe Yuu—”

shi+nomiya-sensei called my name at the end

”Yes?”

Wondering what it was about, I raised my hand and responded

”The principal apparently wishes to speak to you regarding the school festival Please report to the principal's office during lunch”

”Got it”

Although I had no idea why she wanted to see me, this was perfect, because I wanted to discuss with the principal about the wound that had appeared next to on mark

Feeling the band-aid on my left hand that Mitsuki had applied for me, I wondered what the principal wanted to talk to me about—

Part 3

When the lunch break arrived, I went to the principal's office as instructed

The clock tohere the Acadeathered Destroyed by Hekatonkheir at one point, it had been rebuilt during our expedition to take down Basilisk It was only now that I finally stepped into the restored clock tower for the first time

I originally thought the principal's office ht have been relocated, but the internal layout seemed almost identical to before The principal's office was still on the clock tower's top level

”—You caht time, Mononobe Yuu”

I knocked and entered the roo blue-eyed blonde instantly looked up At first glance, she seeer than ard's chief administrator, Principal Charlotte B Lord The wo next to her, dressed as a maid, was the principal's secretary, Mica Stuart-san

This roohtly shut with a dim interior

”Umm, I heard you wanted to talk to me about the school festival”

I brought up the subject while feeling slightly nervous

”Yes, there is one proble external visitors to take part in the school festival, but before that—”

The principal narrowed her eyes, stood up from her seat and approached me

”Show me your left hand”

She turned her gaze to the back of my left hand where a band-aid had been applied, then ordered me

”—Yes”

Impressed by how observant she was, I obediently extended my left hand

”Is there any change in the dragon mark?”

”Actually, just like last ti appeared—Oh, hold on, I'll peel it myself”

I stopped the principal as about to tear it off, and re Mitsuki unnecessary worry, I intended to put it back on later

The principal stared at the exposed wound on ue and licked my wound

”I-I was curious since last ti like this?”

I felt a bit of a sting fro me to shudder

”This is nosis, don't mind it”

”Method of diagnosis”

Ignoring my puzzlement, the principal stared at the wound, moistened by saliva

”—Just as expected, it doesn't disappear Perhaps the fundaed Looks like it's a wound of the same nature as last time”

The principal muttered words which I could not quite understand Despite ue, the principal seemed to have conducted many analyses

”Umm, Principal?”

I called to her, hoping she could explain and help lared at me

”So—Have you tried it?”

”Tried it? Tried what?”

I asked in puzzlehed

”Of course I' if you tried to see whether you can perform new transmutations”

”No, not yet”

Because I thought trying randoerous, I wanted to confer with the principal first

”Really? Then try it here”

”Eh? Are you sure? Shouldn't I go to a training site”

”Don't worry, as long as you control the dark enerated to a very small amount, even if there's an accident, effects will be minor”

”I-I understand”

I nodded then generated a sphere of dark matter on my left hand with a radius of one centimeter

”—Great, ill it be this ti of which, so-called Ds are the rare people ield the sa them, Mononobe Mitsuki even obtained the antimatter controlled by 'Purple' Kraken' whereas you have reproduced 'White' Leviathan's ability through antigravitational matter”

The principal stared at the s over my palm, then continued with excitement on her face:

”Although I did not receive any report when Mononobe Mitsuki gained a new ability, your dragon ravitational onnew abilities, then you should have obtained a dragon's power Come, try it out quickly and show me”

Like a child, the principal tugged ed

”Uh Now that I think about it closely, how do I test it?”

Generated dark hts, hence I could not create so I did not know about

”First try recalling the powers exhibited by the dragons you fought and defeated Either 'Red' Basilisk or 'Yellow' Hraesvelgr Considering past precedents, these two dragon's powers ht very well have been inherited by Ds”

”—Got it”

I listened to the principal's instructions and started to concentrate

I first pictured the red light fired fro ability known as ”Catastrophe,” capable of speeding up time

However, the dark e

Okay—Next one

I recalled the appearance of ”Yellow” Hraesvelgr that I had fought in the Principality of Erlia

Hraesvelgr used golden particles as a medium and possessed a power known as ”Ether Wind,” capable ofsouls

Then just as I pictured the particles enveloping Hraesvelgr's body, shi+ning with golden light, instantly, the darkparticles

”Oh”

The particles shone with golden radiance Flying up lightly into the air, they faded then finally disappeared

”Wow, so you succeeded! What was that just now? Which dragon's poere you thinking of?”

With reddened cheeks, the principal asked me

”Uh, just now, that was probably the particles hanging around Hraesvelgr, capable ofsouls”

A in a new transmutation, I answered the principal excitedly

”Yes, Hraesvelgr's power, that's truly wonderful Let's run through examinations and tests more concretely in a few days Please cooperate when the time comes”

”Understood”

I was grateful too for a ravitational r's power, but this further baffled ht now

Because speaking of which, I still had no idea as the root reason why I becaons To be honest, I did not feel happy about becoer